Ah, the Mistletoe Margarita — a cocktail so festive it practically hums “Jingle Bells” as you pour it. It’s a lively blend of tequila, lime, and cranberry that perfectly balances tart, sweet, and merry. Think of it as the winter cousin of your beachside margarita — dressed in red, wearing a sprig of green, and ready to flirt with everyone at the holiday party.
Ingredients
-
2 oz silver tequila
-
1 oz triple sec or Cointreau
-
1 oz fresh lime juice
-
1 oz white cranberry juice (for a lighter color) or regular cranberry juice for a bold red
-
½ oz simple syrup (optional, for extra sweetness)
-
Ice cubes
-
Fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs for garnish
-
Salt or sugar for rimming the glass
Cooking Time
-
Prep time: 5 minutes
-
Total time: 5 minutes
Serving
-
Makes 1 cocktail
Instructions
-
Prepare the Glass:
Rub a lime wedge around the rim of your glass, then dip it into salt or sugar — depending on whether you like your holidays naughty or nice. -
Shake It Up:
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine tequila, triple sec, lime juice, cranberry juice, and simple syrup. Shake like you’re mixing up some Christmas mischief. -
Serve:
Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. -
Garnish:
Drop in a few cranberries and tuck in a rosemary sprig for that mistletoe vibe.
Nutrition (per serving)
-
Calories: 190
-
Carbohydrates: 15g
-
Sugar: 13g
-
Alcohol: 15g
Tips
-
For a sparkling twist, top with club soda or prosecco.
-
If making a batch, use a pitcher and scale up the ingredients — just keep your ratio of tequila to lime juice steady (this is not the time to “eyeball” it).
-
Freeze your cranberries beforehand to keep the drink cold without watering it down.
The Mistletoe Margarita is sweet enough to charm, tart enough to wake you up, and strong enough to make you reconsider that third round of Christmas caroling. One sip, and you’ll know why this cocktail deserves a spot under every holiday mistletoe.
